Gardeners' Notes:

A superb perennial for woodland/dry shade conditions. Graceful, elegant, and architectural. The flowers are a lovely bonus, but its main attractions are its foliage and its arching structure. Great for cutting.

Tough and durable, it grows well wherever hostas grow. Spreads slowly and not invasively. Can be divided any time, but most easily in the fall.

There are several variegated forms, but the one most commonly offered for sale is as pictured, with a narrow band of white on the edges of the leaves.

I bought my "basic" Solomon's Seal at a flea market. It grew in my Zone 4a, eastern Ontario garden on shallow, very poor soil in full sun and it grew beautifully. It may have spread faster if had been in some shade. It's so graceful and a lovely addition to any herbaceous bed. Something, probably deer, occasionally bit the tip off the cluster of young leaves, but evidently didn't choose to eat any more of the plant. I have now moved to a different area, and thinking I would be able to buy a new plant I didn't bring a piece with me. Now I can't find a supplier. Any ideas?

I lusted after this plant for a long time and bought it as a gift for myself upon my retirement. It has colonized a dry, dark area on the north side of my home, blooming reliably as it spreads. It has maintained its variegation as well as its attractiveness year after year. I wanted to share some divisions and found it to be forgiving and resilient when dug up in spring. Each piece sprouted and bloomed within 2 months of root disturbance (for potting and replanting). The dangling bells are delicate looking and decorative. Fall color is golden yellow. Overall Variegated Solomon's Seal is an eye-catching shade plant that thrives without extra water or fuss. Southeastern PA, zone 6.

This is a plant that catalog photos don't do justice. It is so graceful and lovely in the woodland garden. It spreads very slowly in my amended clay. I keep it watered for now,it's just been in for a few years. It is supposed to be relatively drought resistant at maturity. I love plants that do well in dry shade! I haven't found it listed anywhere as deer resistant, but I have had great luck with it. The area I have it in is by a nature preserve and is ravaged by deer and rabbits. This has yet to be touched by them.

I love this plant! I've found it to be really low-maintenance. I have had it for about 3 years in a 12" pot that gets morning sun & afternoon shade. I typically water it about once a week during the growing season---a little more often during our triple-digit summers. I transplanted it when it was dormant last winter into a larger & sturdier container, and was concerned I might lose it; everything I've read says it doesn't like to be disturbed. Based on the vigorous spring growth I'm seeing, it likes its new home and the transplanting process didn't phase it! Blooms last for several weeks; the variegated foliage is lovely all summer. In addition, the golden fall color is beautiful and the leaves stay on until late in the season. When they fade, the stems just pull right out, so it'... read mores easy to tidy up for winter. The pot sits near my front door, the plant gets lots of attention and compliments from visitors.

I only wish to ask, do Deer eat this plant? I live on the Queen Charlotte Islands, coastal rainforest and the Deer are always eating things. Does anyone know. Just because it is poisonous to us doesn;t mean it is poison to deer.

Very lovely - one of the best plant for me - of course there are one little detail - they tend to wander like some other solomon's seal and leaves some spots empty which was full the year before while popping up into other perennial clumps.

Beautiful plant. mine is planted inground, getting a couple of hours of afternoon sun. I believe it would spread more rapidly if I gave it more water, which I'm working on. Highly recommend. Kinda pricey in my neck of the woods.

I just love this plant. I planted 2 in early Spring 2006 and it is so colorful (even without the flowers) and has such an interesting, clean form. I know this is supposed to be a shade plant, but mine get a decent amount of sun and I don't have leaf burn. The white flowers on the underside of the plant are pretty too, blooming here in Spring. I have no idea why this plant is not more popular around here.

This plant grows well in East Texas. I have both variegated and plain. I have had mine for only a few months but it is comon here. It needs wet but well grained organic soil. My soil is very is very sandy so I add a lot of compost to it.

Very attractive arching habit facilitates placing small plants beneath it if you desire. Leaves stay fresh and attractive all summer with very little care after initial establishment. Spreads slowly but consistantly. I have not noticed any fragrance.

(plants referenced are in clay/loam soil under part shade from deciduous trees and get watered regularly as part of a bed, though I doubt these actually need it)

I think I paid $10 for my initial pot of this plant...must have $100 worth now. This is planted in moist well- drained soil, in part sun. It stays fresh looking until late autumn and complements many other plants. There is a large bleeding heart nearby and they bloom together. I would highly recommend this plant for woodland gardens.